Modular galley for an aircraft or train as well as wall and modular for such a galley and aircraft or train equipped therewith

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a modular galley for an aircraft or train. The modular galley has a wall provided with a multiplicity of guides running in the vertical direction with undercuts as well as a multiplicity of essentially block-shaped modules. The modules have runners on the rear that can be accommodated in the undercut slots, the cross-sectional shape of which, viewed in the horizontal plane, corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the undercut slots, viewed in the horizontal plane. The modular galley furthermore has lifting means for raising or lowering a said module.

The present invention relates to a modular galley for an aircraft ortrain.

Such modular galleys are known. For aircraft in particular these galleysare fully assembled by specialist suppliers so that they can then befitted as a unit in the aircraft. Such galleys consist of a frame, thedimensions of which are dictated by the dimensions of the aircraft atthe location where the galley is to be installed, as well as amultiplicity of modules permanently fixed to the frame. In accordancewith the state of the art, and also in accordance with the invention,these modules can comprise cupboards, ovens, cooling installations, suchas refrigerators or insulated cabinets provided with a cooling medium,water supplies, coffee machines, ovens, water boilers, etc. Connectionsto the water supply, power supply or air supply are needed for a numberof such modules. These connections are made permanently using methodsthat are non-standard or at least are hardly standard. The variousaspects mean that for an aircraft such a galley, as it is known inaircraft circles, is a fixed unit that once it has been installedremains in place in the aircraft and cannot be adapted specifically tothe wishes of the passengers. In practice it is found that the wishes ofthe passengers are usually dependent on the route on which the aircraftis employed. In the case of aircraft galleys, just as with othersystems, components etc. to be installed in an aircraft, it is extremelyimportant that the various components are fixed to the aircraft in avery reliable manner or that it is ensured in some other way that atleast nothing is able to float around the aircraft during turbulentflying conditions or in emergency situations.

The disadvantage of the known galleys is that there is no uniformity ofconstruction between the various galleys for diverse types ofaircraft—connections are always made and assembly is always carried outmore or less as the engineer sees fit when building the prototype—, thatthe galley cannot be adapted depending on the wishes of thepassengers—therefore, galleys are usually used that have more or lessstandard equipment per airline—and that re-equipping or modifying theequipment of a galley is not possible other than during maintenance ofthe aircraft by specialist personnel since the galley and the modulesare fixed permanently, or at least such that they cannot easily beuncoupled, in the aircraft.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a galley, as it is knownin aircraft circles, for an aircraft or train, which galley can easilybe re-arranged, optionally per flight or run, or at least can be adaptedto the anticipated desires of the passengers on that flight or run. Afurther aim in this context is to standardise the galley to a greaterextent

The abovementioned main aim is achieved according to the invention byproviding a modular galley for an aircraft or train, comprising:

-   a wall provided with a multiplicity of guides running in the    vertical direction with undercut slots;-   a multiplicity of modules with runners on the rear that can be    accommodated in the undercut slots;-   lifting means for raising or lowering a said module, the runners of    which have been accommodated in a said undercut slot, over the wall.

By providing a wall with a multiplicity of guides running in thevertical direction with undercut slots and the galley modules, whichpreferably are essentially in the form of a block but also can very wellbe in the form of a worktop or a seat—that can be wall-mounted—for crew,to be provided at the rear with runners than can be accommodated in saidundercut slots, as well as providing lifting means, it becomes possibleto hook the galley modules by means of their undercut runners into anundercut slot and then to bring these to the correct height with respectto the wall by means of the lifting means. As soon as the undercutrunners have been hooked into the undercut slots, the galley module isthen attached to the wall and, except for the possibility of slidingalong the slot, also fixed to the wall. With this arrangement thelifting means enable easy and rapid assembly without special tools, forexample for bringing a galley module that is to be mounted high to theright height and position correctly in front of the wall. With thisarrangement the runners can optionally be so constructed that they canbe inserted in the slot in such a way that they can then be hooked intothe undercut part of the slot by means of a projection, which can beswung inwards against resilient force to allow insertion in the slot.The guide with undercut slots can be rails mounted on thewall—projecting outwards with respect to the plane of the wall—, but canequally well be sunk in the wall, for example rails sunk in the wall orslots made directly in the wall. The wall can be either a fixed wall ora movable wall.

In order to ensure reliable, rattle-free fixing of the modules to thewall it is preferable according to the invention if the runners are ofundercut construction corresponding to the slots. This is understood inparticular to mean that, viewed in the horizontal plane, the runnershave a cross-sectional shape that corresponds to the cross-sectionalshape of the undercut slots, viewed in the horizontal plane.

With a view to reliable fixing of the modules to the wall and a simpleprocedure for this as well as a simple procedure for uncoupling themodules from the wall, it is preferable according to the invention ifthe slots are widened in places such that, on the one hand, a saidundercut runner can be inserted here, essentially unimpeded, in thehorizontal direction so as then to hook into the respective undercutslot after being moved vertically and that, on the other hand, therunner hooking into the slot can be removed from the slot in thehorizontal direction after it has been positioned in the widened part ofthe slot. In this way it becomes possible, inter alia, to construct therunner as a component without moving parts, such as a moving projection.This makes functioning of the runner more reliable, in which context itmust be borne in mind in particular that the runner is also an importantcomponent in locking the module to the aircraft. All that is needed tofix the module is for the runners of the module to be inserted via awidened section into one or more slots and then for the module to bemoved, with or without the aid of the lifting means, along the slot, asa consequence of which the runners will hook into the undercut slot.Precisely the reverse procedure is adopted for removing a module fromthe wall; the module will be positioned, with or without the aid of thelifting means, such that the runners are in a widened section of theslot, after which the module can easily be removed from the wall.

In order further to facilitate the mounting of modules on the wall andthe removal of modules from the wall, in particular so that the physicalexertion of the personnel required is as low as possible, it ispreferable according to the invention if the widened sections of theslots are provided close to the floor, such that a module placed on thefloor, optionally also supported by a mobile platform, can be moved overthe floor and placed in contact with the wall so that the runnersproject into the slot via the widened sections—lifting operations arenot necessary for this—so as then to be able to raise the module up theslot to the desired mounting height with the aid of the lifting means.With this arrangement it will, in particular, be the case that thewidened sections of the slots are at a height above the floor of thegalley such that a module placed on the floor in front of the slotconcerned completely overlaps the widened section.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, theslots, viewed in a horizontal plane, have an essentially T-shaped form,the leg of the T pointing away from the wall. In this way a slot isobtained that as it were is undercut on two sides, which makes itpossible, in particular, reliably to prevent a module mounted on thewall from swinging with respect to the wall in the horizontal planeabout an essentially vertical axis. A further requirement for this isthat the runners on the module are constructed such that they areessentially undercut on two sides. An undercut of the runners on twosides can be achieved either by constructing each runner with anundercut on two sides—which is preferred—or by working with pairs ofrunners in each case, one of which, for example, is constructed with anundercut on the left and the other of which, for example, is constructedwith the undercut on the right. According to a particularly preferredembodiment, the runners will be shaped like a mushroom.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the lifting means canbe constructed in a wide variety of ways that fall within the scope ofthe claims. However, it is preferable to construct the lifting meanssuch that they are reliable in operation and of simple construction.This can be achieved according to the invention if the lifting meanscomprise a spindle—provided with external screw thread—that runsvertically in the wall with a lifting arm that projects from the walland can be moved along the spindle by means of matching internal screwthread. The spindle can be driven in a wide variety of ways to make itrotate, for example manually, but it will preferably be driven by amotor, for example by means of an electric motor. With this arrangementthe number of revolutions that the spindle makes is proportional to thevertical height over which the lifting arm is raised or lowered. Suchoperation can easily be automated.

According to yet a further embodiment it is preferable if the modulargalley furthermore comprises locking means that are provided on the walland on each module and interact with one another, for fixing a saidmodule at a specific height. Such locking means can be constructed in awide variety of ways and make it possible for the lifting means to beuncoupled from the module after the module has been brought to thedesired height so as to use these lifting means, for example, forbringing a subsequent module located below or optionally above to thecorrect height. According to the invention, the locking means cancomprise a pin that is provided on the wall or the module and can beslid outwards in the horizontal direction, as well as a pin seatprovided in the module or the wall—depending on where the pin isprovided. The pin then as it were shoots or slides out of the wall orthe module into the pin seat provided on the other part—the module orthe wall—so as thus to fix the module on the wall in the verticaldirection.

In order, insofar as is necessary, easily to be able to provide themodules with a gas, such as air, water, data and/or power, or, ifappropriate, easily to be able to discharge a gas or water or to be ableto output data from a module, it is preferable according to theinvention if the wall and one or more of the modules are provided withconnecting means for gas, water, data exchange and/or power. In thiscontext the wall will, in particular, be provided with a connection unitequipped with a gas supply connector, a gas discharge connector, watersupply connector, water discharge connector and a power connector anddata communication bus. Depending on what is housed in the module, themodule can then be provided with a matching gas supply connector and/orgas discharge connector and/or water supply connector and/or waterdischarge connector and/or power connector. What this then comes down tois that, as it were, an assembly of plug and socket is provided withconnectors that can simply be pushed into one another. Such connectorsthat can simply be pushed into one another are known per se from thestate of the art and do not require any further explanation for thoseskilled in the art.

According to a further embodiment, the modular galley according to theinvention comprises a number of vertical sections alongside one another,with, per section;

-   -   at least two of said slots;    -   in the wall, at least one gas supply, gas discharge, water        supply, water discharge and power connector; and    -   lifting means.        What is achieved by providing two slots per section is that a        module can in each case be fixed to the wall via runners hooking        into two slots, which is beneficial for the reliability of the        fixing. As a result of providing lifting means per vertical        section it is not necessary to move lifting means between the        sections, which appreciably increases the ease of use when        fitting and removing modules. By providing the wall per vertical        section with every type of connection that can be needed, great        freedom of arrangement is achieved with regard to the        distribution of various types of modules over the wall.

According to yet a further embodiment of the invention, the modulargalley has one or more service trolleys placed underneath a said module.Service trolleys are trolleys which are wheeled through the aircraftcabin to provide the passengers with snacks.

According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a wallfor a modular galley according to the invention and to an aircraft ortrain provided with such a wall.

According to yet a further aspect, the invention relates to a module fora modular galley according to the invention.

According to yet a further aspect the present invention relates to anaircraft or train provided with a wall according to the invention orwith a modular galley according to the invention.

The present invention will be explained in more detail below withreference to an example shown highly diagrammatically in the drawing. Inthe drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic, perspective view of a modular galleyaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows, diagrammatically, a horizontal section of a detailaccording to the line II-II from FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic view of the rear of a module, also termedgalley module, according to the invention.

With reference to, in particular, FIGS. 1 and 2, a wall 1, termed systemwall, is shown. The system wall 1 is so to say sub-divided into verticalsections 3, six in the present case. Each vertical section 3 is providedwith two slots 2 and a spindle 4. Here, per section 3, the spindle 4 isin each case fitted between two slots 2. However, it will be clear tothose skilled in the art that it would be possible to work with one slotor with more than two slots 2 per section and that the spindle 4 doesnot necessarily have to be central, although this will be preferred.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, each slot 2 has a T-shapedcross-section viewed in the horizontal plane, the so-called leg of theT-shape pointing away from the wall 1 so as thus to obtain a slot thatis undercut on two sides.

The spindle 4 consists of a rod provided with external screw thread, onwhich a bush 5, which is provided with internal screw thread andexternally has a non-circular peripheral shape, is provided. This bushis accommodated in a vertical guide 50 and because of its non-circularperipheral shape will be prevented from rotating in the vertical guide50. The bush 5, in turn, supports a lifting arm 19 that projects fromthe wall 1.

Again with reference to, in particular, FIG. 1 it can be seen that anumber of modules 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 have been mounted on the wall 1.As is indicated by the different reference numerals, these modules areof various types and/or of various sizes. The modules 6 are, forexample, all cabinet modules with a door that can be opened and which isintended for housing stocks. The module 7 is, for example, a drawermodule, the module 8 is a module by means of which ice cubes can bemade, module 9 is a module for making coffee and tea and the modules 10are a type of cabinet module with (not shown) a door that hinges about ahorizontal hinge axis along the bottom edge so as to provide a worktopwhen hinged open. Module 11 is a refrigerator module. It should be clearthat these modules are merely examples of possibilities and that a widevariety of other modules are possible and conceivable completely withinthe scope of the claims of the present application. For instance, interalia, consideration can be given to a sink unit module with a water tap,an oven module, etc.

So-called service trolleys 12 can be positioned underneath the modules10 and 11. Here, the service trolleys are shown only as positionedunderneath module 10; the service trolley that can be positionedunderneath module 11 has not been shown in order to illustrate thevarious features. For the purposes of illustration, the right-handsection 3 of the wall has also been left free in FIG. 1. The servicetrolleys 12 can thus be taken away from the wall and wheeled through thecabin to provide the passengers with, for example, the desired snacks.

As is shown in particular in FIGS. 2 and 3, each module is provided onthe back with a number of runners 14. The number of runners 14 will beat least one per slot 2 and preferably two per slot 2.

So that the runners 14 are able to project into the respective slots 2in such a way that the widened parts 15 of the runners 14 drop into theundercut of the slot 2, it would be possible to provide for the widenedpart 15 to be compressible against the action of, for example, a spring,such that they are initially completely within the body section 16 inorder to be able to pass by the leg of [lacuna] T-shaped slot. However,such runners will require moving parts, which can adversely affect thereliability of operation. From this point of view it is preferable toconstruct the runners 14 without moving parts, for example, andpreferably, to make them solid. In this way one arrives at the preferredembodiment of the runners 14, which is mushroom-shaped. So as to make itpossible in the case of such runners 14 without moving parts that therunners fit in the slots 2 with their widened section in the undercuts,it is preferable according to the invention to make the slots 2 withwidening in places, as has been illustrated in FIG. 2 in the case of theleft-hand slot 2 and is indicated by 17 and is also shown by 17 in thetwo right-hand sections in FIG. 1. By aligning the runners 14 preciselyin front of the widened zone 17 of the slot 2, the module can then beplaced directly against the wall 1, the entire runner then being in theslot 2. What is achieved by now moving the runner 2 in the verticaldirection together with the module is that the widened sections 15 ofthe runner 14 engage in the undercuts of the slot 2.

According to the invention it is preferable to provide the (lower)runners of a module on the rear of the module a fixed distance W abovethe bottom 18 of said module. This is irrespective of the height of themodule itself. If the widened sections 17 of the slot are now providedin the wall 1 the same distance W above the floor 13, it is possible topush the modules placed on the floor 13 against the wall and in doing sosimply to insert the runners 14 in the widened sections 17 of the slot.In this context it is optionally conceivable also to take account of askate to be placed under the module, which skate will be not much morethan a load-bearing platform with wheels. This makes it possible towheel the module against the wall instead of pushing it. To give someidea, the height Z can be assumed for the height of this skate (in theabsence of a skate Z will be 0). The corollary of this will be thateither (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) the widened sections 17 in the wall 1are made a height W+Z above the floor 3 or (not shown), which willprobably be preferred, the runners 14 are positioned on the rear of themodules at a height W−Z above the bottom 18 of the module, at least ifthe module concerned is a module that will be wheeled over the floorwith the aid of a skate.

If the modules are provided with two runners per slot 2, it is thenpreferable, for the reasons explained above, always to provide thehigher runner 14 a fixed distance V above the lower runner 14 and toprovide each slot 2 with two widened sections 17 for the slot, which area distance V apart.

When a module is placed against the wall 1, the lifting arm 19 providedon the spindle 4 will be sunk in the floor 13 or, in the case of askate, will drop into a recess in the skate or will optionally fit intoa recess in the bottom of the module. As soon as the spindle 4 is thenturned in the correct direction, the lifting arm 19 will rise and liftthe modules 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 concerned up the wall 1, the runners 14then hooking into the slot 2. In this way it will then be possible toraise the modules 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 to a height desired for thatmodule.

As soon as the module has been brought to the desired height by means ofthe spindle 4 and lifting arm 19, it will have to be ensured in some wayor other that the module 11 is held at that height. This can optionallybe achieved by keeping the lifting arm 19 permanently at the relevantheight. However, this is impractical if, as is shown in the two sections3 on the left of FIG. 1, it is desired to fix several modules 6 to thewall 1 some distance above the ground. Specifically, it would then benecessary to provide several lifting arms on the spindle. In thiscontext it is preferable to provide the wall and module with lockingmeans that interact with one another. By way of example, an example ofsuch locking means is shown highly diagrammatically in FIG. 2. Thelocking means shown in FIG. 2 comprise a pin 21 that can be moved bymeans of a coil 22 actuated electrically between a position in which itis retracted in the wall 1 and a position in which it protrudes from thewall 1 (which latter position in shown in FIG. 2). The coil 22 that canbe actuated electrically is thus able to drive the pin 21 out of thewall into a pin seat 20 made in the module. It should be clear that inthis way it is also possible fully to retract the pin 21 from theposition shown in FIG. 2 back into the wall 1. It should also be clearthat it is also conceivable to provide the pin 21 with coil 22 in themodule and to provide the pin seat 20 in the wall. It is alsoconceivable to work with manually operated locking means.

The wall 1 is also provided, preferably per section 3, with a sort ofplug, termed wall plug 23. The wall plug 23 comprises a supporting frame29 with a compressed air connector 24, a gas discharge 25, a watersupply 26, a water discharge 27 and four power connectors 28 thereon. Aswill be clear or will become clear to a person skilled in the artfurther types of connectors are provided on said one supporting frame29. The support frame 29 can be made to stand proud of the wall andretracted into the wall by means of suitable means. This can, forexample, be achieved by means of a pin 30 which can be moved in thelongitudinal direction by means of a coil 31 that can be electricallyactuated. Each module is provided with a corresponding socket, whichlatter is fixed to the module and is termed the module socket. Themodule socket 32 will preferably in each case be provided with matchingconnectors 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 only insofar as this is needed for thefunctioning of the equipment housed in the module concerned. As soon asa matching connector 34, 35, 36, 37 or 38 is then connected to aconnector 24, 25, 26, 27 or 28 the connector 24, 25, 26, 27 or 28provided on the wall will then, as it were, be opened at least insofaras this is a gas or liquid connector. In the case of, for example, arefrigerator module, a matching connector for compressed air, a matchingconnector for water supply and for water discharge will usually besuperfluous. In the case of an oven module, usually only matching powerconnectors will be needed. As soon as the module has been brought intothe correct position, the wall plug will be pushed forward from thewall, before, after or at the same time as the locking means, so as tobe connected to the module socket 32 on the module concerned.

If it is now desired to remove a module from the wall it is necessaryonly to place the lifting arm under the module by operating the spindle,to retract the wall plug into the wall, to decouple the locking meansand to lower the lifting arm with the module bearing thereon to, forexample, the floor.

As far as the column of modules 6 down to the ground furthest on theleft is concerned, it is pointed out that here the bottom module 6 canbe connected to the wall in various ways, optionally with the aid ofmanually operated connectors. If the bottom module 6 is wheeled by meansof a skate until it is in contact with the wall, it will be possible touse the lifting arm 19 and spindle 4 temporarily to lift the top andmiddle modules 6 together a little so that there is space for the skateand the bottom module 6 together. After the runners 14 of the bottommodule 6 have then been inserted in the recesses 17, the skate can bepulled out and the bottom module 6 will lower of its own accord and inthe meantime the runners 14 will engage in the undercuts of the slot 2.This can optionally be supported by an additional lifting arm 19. Thetop and middle module 6 can then be lowered onto the bottom module 6.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A modular galley for an aircraft or train,comprising: a wall; a multiplicity of modules; wherein the wall isprovided with a multiplicity of guides running in the vertical directionwith undercut slots; wherein the multiplicity of modules is providedwith runners on the rear that can be accommodated in the slots forcoupling the modules to the wall by hooking the runners in the slots;and wherein the modular galley further comprises lifting means forraising or lowering a said module, the runners of which have beenaccommodated in a said undercut slot past the wall.
 18. The modulargalley according to claim 17, wherein the runners are undercutcorrespondingly to the slots.
 19. The modular galley according to claim18, wherein the slots are widened in places such that a said undercutrunner can be inserted here in the horizontal direction so as then tohook into the respective undercut slots.
 20. The modular galleyaccording to claim 19, wherein the widened sections of the slots are ata height above the floor of the galley such that a modular placed on thefloor in front of the slot concerned completely overlaps the widenedsection.
 21. The modular galley according to claim 17, wherein theslots, viewed in a horizontal plane, have an essentially T-shaped formwith the leg of the T pointing away from the wall.
 22. The modulargalley according to claim 17, wherein the runners are shaped like amushroom.
 23. The modular galley according to claim 17, wherein thelifting means comprise a spindle that runs vertically in the wall with alifting arm that projects from the wall and can be moved along thespindle by means of matching internal screw thread.
 24. The modulargalley according to claim 17, further comprising locking means that areprovided on the wall and on each module and interact with one another,for fixing a said modular at a specific height.
 25. The modular galleyaccording to claim 24, wherein the locking means comprise a pin that isprovided on the wall or the modular and can be slid in the horizontaldirection as well as a pin seat provided in the module or the wall,respectively.
 26. The modular galley according to claim 17, wherein thewall and one or more of said modules are provided with connecting meansfor air, water, data exchange and/or power.
 27. The modular galleyaccording to claim 17, comprising a number of vertical sectionsalongside one another, with, per section: at least two of said guideswith slots; in the wall, at least one air, water and power connector;and lifting means.
 28. The modular galley according to claim 17, furthercomprising one or more service trolleys placed underneath a said module.29. A module for a modular galley according to claim 17, the modulebeing provided, on the rear, with undercut runners, which can be hookedin an undercut slots on a wall.
 30. A module in a modular galley to besecured to a wall provided with a multiplicity of guides running in thevertical direction with undercut slots, wherein the modular galley canbe used in an aircraft or train and wherein the module comprisesundercut runners on the rear of the module which runners can be hookedin an undercut slot on a wall.
 31. An aircraft having a modular galleycomprising: a wall; a multiplicity of modules; wherein the wall isprovided with a multiplicity of guides running in the vertical directionwith undercut slots; wherein the multiplicity of modules is providedwith runners on the rear that can be accommodated in the slots forcoupling the modules to the wall by hooking the runners in the slots;and wherein the modular galley further comprises lifting means forraising or lowering a said module, the runners of which have beenaccommodated in a said undercut slot past the wall.
 32. A train having amodular galley comprising: a wall; a multiplicity of modules; whereinthe wall is provided with a multiplicity of guides running in thevertical direction with undercut slots; wherein the multiplicity ofmodules is provided with runners on the rear that can be accommodated inthe slots for coupling the modules to the wall by hooking the runners inthe slots; and wherein the modular galley further comprises liftingmeans for raising or lowering a said module, the runners of which havebeen accommodated in a said undercut slot past the wall.
 33. The modulargalley according to claim 27, further including in the wall at least onedata bus.